Uneasy daily life

Grandpa Yukinoshita was unsure and couldn't help but look at his daughter.

“I did misunderstand.” Yukino’s mother sighed, a rare occurrence. “I thought I was trying to live a serious and upright life, but I didn’t expect that in my father’s eyes it was all rebellious behavior. Thinking about it carefully, it makes sense. In the past, I regarded Yukino and Haruno’s behavior that did not meet my expectations as rebellious mistakes. My father’s mindset was probably no different from mine back then.”

Yukinoshita-sama: "..."

“All of that is in the past, and it’s not a big deal. My father’s disapproval made me who I am today. I can’t thank him, but I don’t dwell on it too much either.” Yukino’s mother sighed slightly. “Looking back now, the luckiest thing in my life was meeting him. It was only when I stopped obsessing over my father’s approval that I found myself…”

The old man slowly died beneath the snow, gazing at outsider number one.

The father, standing slightly straight in the snow, exudes pride.

Even if I'm going to be tortured by my father-in-law later, I should still be happy now.

“However, there’s one thing that still bothers me,” Yukino’s mother said frankly, “Why did my father say that when I gave birth to Yukino?”

"This is my fault..."

"What I want to know is why."

why?

The old man was speechless for a moment.

Don't worry about not expressing yourself well or not being able to convey your true feelings; this is when the hero should step in!

Seeing this, Bai Ying decisively looked at Yukino Yukinoshita and said, "You're cute!"

"?" Yukino Yukinoshita almost couldn't hold back. What are you suddenly saying out of the blue? Fortunately, her immunity eventually kicked in, and she replied calmly, "Good to know."

Grandpa Yukino looked at his granddaughter... With such a thick skin, she's got what she needs!

The white figure continued reciting, "You're so cute, you're so cute, you're so cute..."

This isn't just a simple repetition; it's a repetition with varied emotions and vocal styles, blending in all the familiar voices of Yukino Yukinoshita and imbuing them with different feelings—"You're so cute in the passionate Yuigahama," "You're so cute in the jealous Miura," "You're so cute in the teasing Haruno," and "You're so cute in the affirming Yukinoshita mother's voice"...

"#!" Yukino Yukinoshita finally couldn't hold back any longer, her eyes flashing sharply, "White Fungus!"

"That's it."

Bai Ying suddenly turned her head, spread her hands, and said, "Look, even though I've praised them so much, they still managed to set people on fire."

“I didn’t hear any praise in it,” Yukino Yukinoshita said calmly. “You should only say good things once… I mean don’t keep saying them, otherwise it won’t sound like you’re praising someone, but rather like you’re insulting them.”

"Yes, yes, don't keep saying bad things."

Bai Ying said nonchalantly, "If I keep telling my godfather that I have both of your granddaughters in my hands, then I'll have control over the Yukinoshita family from now on..."

Saying that once is enough to kill you!

Under the snow, the old man revealed his demonic nature.

"So it was just out of habit, and there was no other meaning..." Yukinoshita's mother sighed softly. "Perhaps I should have talked to Father about it when I brought him home..."

Grandpa Yukino clicked his tongue and said, "That was all a long time ago... If your mother hadn't left so early, you wouldn't have to keep worrying about this kind of thing."

"Mother?" Yukinoshita's mother paused, then hesitated, "Did Mother do something?"

"She kept telling me how hard you worked and how you were ranked first in the whole school. She was basically praising you to me, but I was busy with work at the time and didn't really pay attention," Yukinoshita said curiously. "Weren't you two quite close?"

"I don't think so... My impression of my mother is that she was mostly interested in shopping and reading. She seemed to have many friends. Although she was gentle, she always seemed to lack presence, and she listened to my father in many things... I remember that most of our conversations were with her encouraging me..."

Yukinoshita's mother tried to recall carefully, but the memory was a particularly vague warm color. It was difficult to find a specific scene or story. In those important moments that she remembered most deeply, there was never a clear figure of her mother, only a vague impression.

After a long silence, the old man sighed and said, "Let's burn some incense for her later and talk to her."

"Was Grandpa and Grandma's marriage arranged? Or was it a blind date?" Yukinoshita Haruno vaguely sensed something. "Grandma probably doesn't have much say in the family, right?"

"What do you mean by having no say? It's just a difference between managing external affairs and managing internal affairs. That's how it was back then. Talking about love and romance was too abstract." Grandpa Yukinoshita said calmly, "Making sure she has enough to eat and wear and doesn't have to worry about making a living is the responsibility of the head of the family."

“Indeed.” Bai Ying clicked her tongue and shook her head. “When there’s an opportunity, you feel there’s nothing to talk about; when you want to say something, the opportunity is gone.”

The old man's cheek twitched under the snow.

Yukinoshita Haruno added with a smile: "Stubborn to the end."

Breakfast ended in an awkward atmosphere. Because Outsider Number Two was leaving early, the matter of paying respects to the deceased lady was brought forward.

Things from decades ago are quite blurry now; I can only vaguely recall a general outline, while the specific details have long been blurred by time and my failing memory.

To say it's love is definitely nonsense. It's just a matter of meeting, having a meal, exchanging pleasantries with each other's elders, asking the opinions of the two younger generations, and then it's considered a done deal.

The adult world doesn't believe in love. The two granddaughters are still too young, and the daughter is stubbornly clinging to outsider number one. They're both acting very recklessly... Tsk, I have to say outsider number one is quite decent. I entrusted him with the power to run the family business, and he hasn't done anything outrageous. Outsider number two, on the other hand, is a bit hard to understand. If he wanted to scheme, he wouldn't need to expose himself in front of me and run around doing things that hurt people's feelings.

My dear daughter, you don't know how lucky you are. I've worked so hard to build up the family business so that you could enjoy it and live a carefree life. I wanted an outsider to sign the marriage agreement, which was entirely for your sake, but you still refuse...

The two granddaughters are also ridiculously clinging to the same man, giving the impression that they're destined to be spendthrift fools. One, like the daughters, insists on inheriting the family business, while the other, always causing trouble, goes off to dabble in music…

And you? Since you married into the family, you've always taken care of the household affairs. I don't remember ever arguing with you. Outsiders say you're a virtuous wife, and I've never felt any concern or worry about you... Today, I learned for the first time that you're a double agent between our daughter and yourself, comforting and reassuring our daughter on my behalf, and telling me on her behalf that it's all because the child is immature and things will get better in the future.

If you hadn't died young from illness, you probably wouldn't have gone more than a decade without having a proper conversation with your daughter.

Before, I felt there was no need to talk, but after sharing our thoughts, both good and bad, right and wrong, things that have come together to form what we are today, I feel inexplicably relieved.

I really want to talk to you, but now that I have some free time, I don't have the chance.

Grandpa Yukinoshita's expression was calm as he lit an incense stick in front of his deceased wife's urn. He had done this many times before, but this was the first time he wanted to confide in someone who was no longer there. And because she was no longer there, confiding seemed so superfluous.

Do you care more about your family or about the balance of giving and receiving?

Grandpa Yukinoshita turned around thoughtfully, looking at Shiroki, who had packed her things and was about to leave, and her eldest granddaughter, who was planning to see her off.

"You bastard, I'll see you off."

"You're too kind. Just send it to Tokyo."

"You're quite impolite."

The two left the courtyard together, with Bai Ying waving goodbye.

"Why didn't you go and deliver it?" Grandpa Yukinoshita suddenly asked his granddaughter.

“Sister has something to say, right?” Yukino Yukinoshita pondered. “She probably suddenly found out something, so she feels confused. Grandpa might hear the good news that sister and Haku have broken up.”

The old man in the snow replied irrelevantly, "I was just about to warn that kid not to hurt you..."

"Grandpa, you'd better not go to all this trouble."

Yukino Yukinoshita said calmly, "I don't want to hurt Haku-kun's feelings."

He struck his grandfather with a single blow, then cleaved his father beside him in two.

"..." x2!

That wretched child! ×2!

……

……

Walking along the country road, heading towards the nearest station.

"You jerk, do you have some kind of script in mind?"

Yukino walked ahead with her hands behind her back. Considering that her boyfriend was always too perceptive, she decisively started the group chat by turning her back to him: "For example, something like 'The Complete Guide to Kissing and Being Sweet with Yukino,' 'The Beginning, Setting, Climax, and Ending of Achieving Happiness,' 'Starting Over: I'm a Love Master,' or something like that?"

"what?"

The white figure asked strangely, "Did the hero tell you about his past life?"

“That’s right, Yukino-chan only keeps her own secrets to herself.” Yukinoshita Haruno clicked her tongue. “I think it won’t be long before she tells other people about your past life, maybe even before school starts.”

"Hmm—the hero does seem like the type to share strategy guides with others."

Bai Ying stroked her chin and said casually, "As for scripts, of course I have some, like '9528's Complete Guide to Moving by Yourself,' 'The Twisting Way of Large Snowflakes,' and 'Starting Over: I Can't Fall in Love,' things like that."

"What a mess."

Yukino Yukinoshita muttered a complaint, smoothing her hair and taking a deep breath of the fresh suburban air. As she walked forward, her tone became somewhat indifferent: "I don't really know how to describe it... If I had to say, it seems that people's behavior and joys and sorrows are all designed by experience—what to do, what mood to have, how to view things, it seems that they have all been planned by society and the past."

"If the misunderstanding is cleared up, both parties should express their understanding and reconcile; parents definitely love their children, but their methods are wrong; people must achieve something, otherwise they cannot be recognized; physical contact with someone you like will bring happiness... Just now, when I offered incense to my grandmother, I didn't know her at all, but I should have shown respect and remembrance, and I did so subconsciously, even though I felt nothing inside..."

"That's probably the feeling. There's always this feeling that to be recognized, you have to express your joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness in a certain way... People gradually lose sight of their own feelings, being happy for things that should make them happy, sad for things that should make them sad, and angry for things that should make them angry. Occasionally, when you let go of what you should think about, you feel a kind of empty loneliness."

"So, what do you think, you bastard? You made me do all those things because you think I should be happy about them? After all, you've been through it all, so you know exactly what to do."

In that case, I always feel a bit lonely. When I realize this feeling, my heart feels empty, like a doll expressing joy and sorrow in accordance with the story.

Is this... correct?

Maybe so. After all, it was my first time experiencing this. I was hoping for a surprise from my boyfriend, and I couldn't resist his "doing things on his own." When I was used to responding with a smile, I felt an indescribable joy. If all of that was just repeating a certain plot, rehearsing and performing step by step... then what's the difference between that and acting?

No matter how convincing the performance, it is still just acting, and acting is all lies.

"What surprises me least is your willingness to engage in multiple relationships."

Bai Ying's voice came from behind, as casual and natural as ever: "After all, this kind of thing is definitely not in line with social norms and will be questioned and rejected by the public. It is bound to be unconventional. You have done enough of the formalities and made the arrangements step by step, so naturally you don't care about unconventional things. You feel that it can prove your own feelings."

"Hmm...maybe." Yukinoshita Haruno chuckled twice. "I quite enjoy doing things like teasing my mother, making fun of my grandfather and father, and giving my elders a reality check."

"By defying authority and the mainstream, one can surely feel their true self. Isn't that also a kind of scripted approach?"

"That sounds rather sophistical."

“Because these are all generalizations of two kinds of behavior, they don’t determine anything at all.” Bai Ying pondered. “If we have to talk about scripts, there are indeed some, such as… trying to get you to act on your own, emphasizing your subjective initiative, enhancing the user’s game experience, and precisely triggering feedback mechanisms—like that?”

"..."

Yukino Yukinoshita choked for a moment, then suddenly shouted, "No—I'm not satisfied with this answer!"

"There's nothing I can do. Who told me to be so handsome and smart that I can always predict and deduce your mindset and thoughts?" Bai Ying replied with a smile. Seeing that the station was almost there, she said directly, "And then, did you misunderstand something? I don't have a script for making people happy. I only have a lot of real scripts. It's not that parents necessarily love their children. It's that in the face of explosive conflicts, between love and selfishness, Auntie chose the former."

“If we really want the so-called happy ending, wouldn’t it be better if I persuaded my godfather to apologize to my aunt, cover up the past, and then praise her a few times? My aunt is strong and serious, but if you can fool her, then you can fool my godfather.”

"Besides, didn't the hero tell you?"

Bai Ying scratched his head: "Although I can see your feelings, it's hard for me to understand the kind of liking you have."

"Huh? What do you say?"

Upon reaching the roadside where they were waiting for the bus, Yukinoshita Haruno suddenly turned around and asked in surprise, "You've probably already done this or that kind of thing, haven't you, Grandpa Shiro?"

"Does that represent my feelings?" Bai Ying shrugged. "Just like you, it's something I should do."

Yukino Yukino stared blankly at the white figure, her thoughts leaping and extinguishing like sparks from fireworks. She thought of her mother and grandfather's unreconciled but mutually understanding relationship, of her boyfriend's usual words and actions, of their conversation just now, of her sister's contemplative wish, of that drama...

She suddenly asked suspiciously, "I mean... you haven't already thought about how, in the end, we can happily let go of this 'wrong' relationship, find our true love one by one, and move towards the future, right?"

"Hmm?" The white figure took a step back warily. "What kind of monster are you? Quickly give back 9528, who's always questioning the truth of life!"

"Ha ha……"

Yukino stepped forward, her face beaming with a smile: "Hey~ you rascal, aren't you taking dating lightly?"

"Wait! Where did I not take it seriously?" Bai Ying said matter-of-factly. "I'm building a mental model, thinking about efficient triggering methods, calculating accurate feedback in real time, and striving to bring the most perfect boyfriend experience..."

"Kiss me."

Yukinoshita stared at the stunned white figure and said through gritted teeth, "The kind where you stick your tongue in your mouth!"

"Wait—from a purely rational perspective, this already constitutes sexual intercourse..."

"Go tell your mother I've been promiscuous in the palace!"

Yukino's voice was a mix of excitement and frustration. She hadn't noticed before because of what had happened, and then she was so intoxicated by this guy's behavior that she hadn't realized it either—this guy wasn't sure what these feelings were, or maybe he had just gotten used to his current mindset. I was picky about whether my feelings were real or fake, and I was used to letting this guy take the lead...

But there are some things I can be sure of—that night, I had an impulse to want the other person to stay, but I was also stopped by my parents.

Without ever having the impulse to cast aside all concerns and thoughts, how can you possibly understand what it means to like someone?!

Yukinoshita Haruno lunged at him fiercely.

"How dare you! Don't be so insolent!"

The white figure suddenly changed color.

……

Oh? It's the officer... and one of his girlfriends too.

Angelina, carrying her luggage, looked at the two people by the station from afar, with no intention of going over.

Why don't you go over there?

“Uh…” Angelina whispered to the painting in her bag, “It wouldn’t be good for me to go over and disturb the atmosphere when other people are a couple.”

[I felt like you were acting strange last night. You tossed and turned in bed, gritting your teeth, and even banging your head against the wall with your pillow, but there was no earthquake after you fell asleep... Oh, you met with Bai Ying yesterday?] Xi suddenly realized, [Could this be the stirrings of first love?]

Angelina gave a deadpan look: "That's right, I wish I could bury the commander in a pit."